The Met Gala 2024 goth trend was hard to miss with Zendaya, Charli XCX, Emma Chamberlain, and more dressing in it to embrace rebirth and renewal vibes. It was an unexpected but fitting take on the the theme and the dress code “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard's short story from 1962.
Features of the goth trend include, but are not limited to: dark colors, lace, leather, sheer, velvet, deconstructed shapes, bold accessories, and an overall sense of drama. To be honest, it is pretty on theme, because what better way to bring new life to fashion than to reimagine and glamorize its decay?
Co-host and style queen Zendaya gave us two servings of gothic garden glam. Yes, she walked the red carpet twice. First, she arrived in a iridescent electric blue Maison Margiela gown. the silhouette was “inspired by the 1930s mythological works of the photographer Madame Yevonde and imbued with the memory of the orgiastic sceneries of the bacchanals of Ancient Greece.” She also completed the look with dark red and brown smokey eye makeup and a dark berry lipstick. Fast forward to her outfit change to Alexander McQueen's spring 2007 collection headpiece and an all-black 1996 Givenchy haute couture gown, both featuring more gothic trend characteristics: dark colors, bold accessories, and deconstructed shapes.
Emma Chamberlain is iconic at every Met as the official Vogue red carpet correspondent. This year’s look featured a 2003 Jean Paul Gaultier floor-length brown lace dress featuring a strapless lace bodice. It was giving gothic bride. Complementing her look and completing the goth trend vibe was her makeup – a chocolate smokey eye. Oh, and she even described her look as “decaying” to Fashionista.
Notably, just because it isn’t black or dark doesn’t mean it isn’t gothic. The perfect example of this? Charlie XCX in her all-white floor-length Marni dress made of torn old white tees. Her gothic makeup featured smudged gray eyeshadow and a dark brown lipstick. Even Lana Del Ray gave a nod to the gothic trend in her incredible Alexander McQueen headgear and elaborate two-to-three-foot-wide gold veil. Slightly different, but still on the gothic trend were Wisdom Kay and Eva Chen – both wearing Robert Wun. Wisdom Kay opted for an all-red vampy vibe suit referred to as “The Burnt Red Rose” and all about the story of decay through time. Meanwhile, Eva Chen wore a black floor-length sheer train dress featuring a snowy crystal and referred to it as “winter garden.”
One thing we know is that Doja Cat always makes a fashion statement. While her actual Vetements ‘fit didn't give total goth, she was still on the gothic vibes via her dark glittery painted teardrop makeup, continuing from her smoky eye look.
Other notable gothic trend notable mentions? Kendall Jenner in her all-black 1999 Givenchy floor-length fitted gown, Rosalía in an all-black Dior Haute Couture dress featuring a black veil millinery, Dua Lipa in her black and white corset and ultra-low rise skirt by Marc Jacobs, and Cardi B in her all-black dramatic tulle Windowsen gown (that needed nine helpers to fan out). Oh, and lest we forget Barry Keoghan’s espresso-brown Burberry tuxedo and tophat, which are the epitome of Victorian goth.
When it comes to the Met, there truly is never a dull moment. And if it is “dull,” it is actually dark and fashionable in the gothic trend way. The Met Gala 2024 goth trend revealed a darker side of the garden glam, mixed in alongside the cutesy, floral garden glamor vibes that were inherent with this theme. It's the perfect juxtaposition between renewal and birth, right in line with the night's theme.
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